Aug 29, 2011

The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) Instructor Course is attended only by Marines who have not only mastered MCMAP, but whose commanders entrusted them to teach and influence junior Marines. As one course instructor says, "We don't just train someone (how) to fight (and) why to fight...(but) we also need them to use judgment to know when not to fight (and) when to stop."

The Lone Sailor at the north end of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge stands as a tribute to personnel from all of America's sea services. Staff Sgt. Brian Buckwalter takes us there.

Aug 27, 2011

Major General Ray Davis took command of the 3d Marine Division in May 1968

When he took command in May 1968, much of the 3d Marine Division was tied down to combat bases, places like Vandegrift and Camp Carroll. They were part of the “McNamara Line” conceived to shut down enemy use of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. And according to Davis this simply wasn’t working. Marine battalions were being pulled back into defensive positions at the combat bases at night. This, he felt, was contrary to the way Marines think. Marines attack. They don’t hunker down. He saw combat being broken off when nightfall was eminent so that combat bases could be manned.

Aug 18, 2011

A historic Colt .45-caliber, semi-automatic
pistol stolen more than 30 years ago from a Medal of Honor winner in
South Carolina has been returned to its rightful owner."

"History buff George Berry, of Medford, has a Colt .45-caliber, semiautomatic pistol he has long coveted, which he received after returning a similar pistol that had been stolen from a Medal of Honor winner in 1978. "

Aug 17, 2011

“Whether Marines stay in for four years or 44 years, they’re Marines until the day they die,” said Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly, commanding general of Marine Forces Reserve and U.S. Marine Forces Northern Command, in a reserve opportunities video. “A lot of pressures in Marines’ lives will cause them to go off of active duty after their initial time in service. In some cases, people have different goals they want to accomplish. The good thing about being associated with the IRR is that you can pursue these goals while still staying connected to your Marine Corps roots.”

Aug 15, 2011

Official Citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

CORPORAL DAKOTA L. MEYERUNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

For service as set forth in the following

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the repeated risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a member of Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 8 September 2009. When the forward element of his combat team began to be hit by intense fire from roughly 50 Taliban insurgents dug-in and concealed on the slopes above Ganjgal village, Corporal Meyer mounted a gun-truck, enlisted a fellow Marine to drive, and raced to attack the ambushers and aid the trapped Marines and Afghan soldiers. During a six hour fire fight, Corporal Meyer single-handedly turned the tide of the battle, saved 36 Marines and soldiers and recovered the bodies of his fallen brothers. Four separate times he fought the kilometer up into the heart of a deadly U-shaped ambush. During the fight he killed at least eight Taliban, personally evacuated 12 friendly wounded, and provided cover for another 24 Marines and soldiers to escape likely death at the hands of a numerically superior and determined foe. On his first foray his lone vehicle drew machine gun, mortar, rocket grenade and small arms fire while he rescued five wounded soldiers. His second attack disrupted the enemy’s ambush and he evacuated four more wounded Marines. Switching to another gun-truck because his was too damaged they again sped in for a third time, and as turret gunner killed several Taliban attackers at point blank range and suppressed enemy fire so 24 Marines and soldiers could break-out. Despite being wounded, he made a fourth attack with three others to search for missing team members. Nearly surrounded and under heavy fire he dismounted the vehicle and searched house to house to recover the bodies of his fallen team members. By his extraordinary heroism, presence of mind amidst chaos and death, and unselfish devotion to his comrades in the face of great danger, Corporal Meyer reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Aug 9, 2011

Here is a GREAT opportunity for veterans and their families, military historians, educators and students alike, to join battlefield tours where history comes alive! For Marine Corps Association members it's even better, because MCA and Military Historical Tours Inc. just renewed a partnership which gives members a 10% discount on all MHT tours. Read about the dynamic opportunity below and visit MHT's website to view their complete tour schedule to World Wars I & II, Korea and Vietnam battle sites and more!

Flash... 70th Anniversary - Wake Island ...Flash 8 - 13 December 2011

Hosts: Admiral Ron Hays, USN, (Ret) & MajGen O.K. Steele, USMC (Ret)

One of the greatest battles of American History, "Wake Island" will be commemorated 8-13 December 2011, on Guam and Wake Island. Many forget that the same day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, on the other side of the date line, 8 December, Guam and Wake Island were also attacked.

Wake Island was defended by a small contingent of Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Civilians against an overwhelming armada of Japanese Naval Forces. Often referred to as the "Alamo of the Pacific", even the civilians, many of them construction workers from Guam, took up arms against the invasion.